https://www.miningweekly.com

Transnet unveils first locomotive to be designed in Africa

21st April 2017

By: Megan van Wyngaardt

Creamer Media Contributing Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

State-owned rail company Transnet this month unveiled the first locomotive to be designed, engineered and manufactured in Africa, the Trans-Africa locomotive.

The company said the locomotive, which will be assembled at the company’s production facility in Koedoespoort, east of Pretoria, marked a crucial step in its strategy of becoming a leading manufacturer and supplier of rolling stock on the continent.

The locomotive is suitable for use on branch lines and in the yard for shunting, while also being able to travel on old rail tracks originally designed to carry light axle loads.

“The locomotive is evidence of the strides we are making in transforming Transnet Engineering into an original-equipment manufacturer for locomotives, a move designed to restore our position as a catalyst for African innovation, industrialisation and, critically, intra-African trade,” Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama said.

In addition, the diesel-powered Trans-Africa locomotive is appropriate for ageing railway lines that operate on the Cape Gauge system, offering a cost-effective solution for the majority of the continent’s railway lines that are currently unused.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Online Managing Editor

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

ASTPM
ASTPM

Established in 1983, the ASTPM is an industry association and representative body of the welded carbon steel tube and pipe manufacturers of South...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Columbus Stainless
Columbus Stainless

Columbus Stainless, based in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, is Africa’s only producer of stainless steel flat products. In addition, Columbus is the only...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.042 0.855s - 110pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now